﻿ Sheffield: bags of restaurants, bags of character

One thing absolutely unmistakeable about Sheffield is its spirit. There’s a spirit amongst the people, a spirit on every winding lane and a spirit up and down every one of its many, many hills. This spirit transfers into everything the city does, from producing steel to making relish to throwing a damn good couple of music festivals every year. And, luckily for all of us, Sheffield’s restaurants are a fine example of this spirit as well. Sheffield is packing restaurants in all shapes and sizes and in all corners of the city. Some are experimental, some are traditional, others just a bit weird. Either way, all of them make the city great and place Sheffield’s restaurant scene as certainly one of the best in Yorkshire. Phwoah, we can’t get enough.

Sheffield restaurants: from green spaces to cold places

Another unmistakable thing about Sheffield is the cityscape itself, by which we mean vast industrial space full of used and disused warehouses, surrounded and overlooked by the lusciousness of the Peak District. It’s steel, grit and concrete juxtaposed with wood, grass and freshness. When you throw in the abundance of brutalist architecture as well as much from the charming 20th century, it’s very clear to see what kind of hotbed Sheffield restaurants have to play with. Keeping all of that in mind, you’ve got quite the decision on your hands when it comes to choosing whether you’d like to dine at a classic British pub up in the peaks or at one of many contemporary restaurants on Sheffield’s Kelham Island, for example – a big nod back towards the industrial heritage of the city.

Locals of Sheffield are very used to groups of students arriving and leaving at the start and end of every academic year. Students are a massive part of the Sheffield community and it’s true that Sheffield’s restaurants have students at least somewhere in mind when they’re designing their dining spaces and chalking up their menus. Certain Sheffield restaurants – particularly those around areas like Broomhill and Endcliffe – have become more or less student-exclusive little haunts due to their proximity with the Endcliffe Student Village and relative fuss-free and cheap menus. However, head just a little bit towards Ecclesall Road – or Eccy Road, if you’re from round these parts – and you’ll find not only some of the most delicious restaurants in Sheffield but ones where students and locals come together in perfect harmony. Any restaurant along Sheffield’s Ecclesall Road is worth a visit and a reservation as the whole area has a definite, tangible and happy vibe, but wherever in the city you choose to dine, student presence is acknowledged, appreciated, often incorporated.

Keeping things indie on Division Street

Another very well-loved Sheffield street where restaurants come at you thick and fast is none other than Division Street. Division Street restaurants aren’t just any restaurants, and they’re certainly not chain restaurants. Nope, here, it’s all about independence. Remember that Sheffield spirit we mentioned? Yeah, Division Street shows it loud and proud and every clothes shop, bakery, cafe, record store and restaurant is Sheffield-born and indie all the way. What does this mean for restaurants specifically? Well, it means they’re run with a proper amount of care, first and foremost, which bodes well for the standard of the food coming out of the kitchens. It also means your custom is very much appreciated and it means the produce being used is very often locally-sourced from independent suppliers. Dining at these particular Sheffield restaurants gives you a nice little bit of peace of mind, as though you’re a part of something. Like your meal out is a mindful decision that’s not only filling you up good and true but helping out a few humble folk in Sheffield as well. Jolly good stuff, friends. Jolly good stuff.

Whatever and whenever, Sheffield restaurants know what’s up

Naturally, being a major city, restaurants in Sheffield offer just about whatever cuisine you might fancy at just about every price range. For whatever or whenever your occasion might be, Sheffield restaurants will know the drill and northern hospitality will be everywhere to see. Truth be told, however, there are certain dishes that you’d be unwise to dine in Sheffield without trying. Pie is definitely one of these, carby and heavy and best paired with mushy peas, thick chips and not less than a bucket full of gravy, you’ll find good pie at traditionally British restaurants dotted all about Sheffield. Sheffield also benefits from a rather large international community so Middle Eastern-style kebabs and grills are very much a thing, as are American-style diners serving burgers and fries that taste so good they can be forgiven for adding several inches to your waistline. Find what you’re after via Quandoo, make a reservation, leave a review. Boom.